Message from Ramon Labanino to Chicago event "Medicine for the People: The Example of Cuba and Venezuela"

To our event on September 26, with Cori Marshall, ELAM graduate, Jesus Rodriguez, Consulate of Venezuela in Chicago, Anne Sheetz, Illinois Single Payer Coalition:

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHICAGO:

IT IS AN HONOR TO SEND YOU THE EMBRACE AND GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF MY 4 BROTHERS, OUR FAMILIES, THE CUBAN PEOPLE AND MYSELF.
WE KNOW THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT  OF SOLIDARITY YOU CARRY OUT TO  SUPPORT those who DEFEND OUR HOMELAND AND OUR CAUSE. 

WE ARE VERY PROUD AND GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. WE ARE LIVING IN A SPECIAL TIME IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA.. THAT'S WHY EVERY STEP AND MOBILIZATION FOR OUR FREEDOM AND THE FUTURE OF OUR TWO NATIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE DESERVE TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT AND BETTER WORLD. A NEW WORLD WHERE HUMAN BEINGS (NOT MONEY) IS THE ESSENCE AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN SOCIETY. 

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE "ELAM" ("LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE") THROUGH WHICH OUR POOR COUNTRY OFFERS FREE EDUCATION IN MEDICINE TO STUDENTS OF MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING THE U.S.- HEALTH CARE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS AND SHOULD BE FREE FOR EVERYONE.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT A NEW WORLD IS ALREADY HERE IS THE NEW LATIN AMERICA THAT IS FIGHTING TO UNITE EVERY COUNTRY IN A MORE JUST AND FRIENDLY WAY, FOLLOWING THE DREAMS OF OUR MARTYRS AND HEROES FROM BOLIVAR, SAN MARTIN, SUCRE, MARTI AND MANY MORE. 

TODAY, VENEZUELA AND CUBA ENJOY A VERY CLOSE AND HELPFUL RELATION IN THE INTEREST OF IMPROVING THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR PEOPLES. WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS AND DREAMS. IT IS A WAY TO SHOW THAT "HOMELAND IS HUMANITY" AS OUR NATIONAL HERO JOSE MARTI ONCE SAID.

WE WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THE VENEZUELA CONSULATE IN CHICAGO WHO ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB NOT ONLY FOR THEIR COUNTRY BUT FOR CUBA AND DEFENDING OUR OWN CAUSE. 

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FIGHTING BY OUR SIDE!
UNITED, WE SHALL OVERCOME!
FIVE HUGS!
RAMON LABANINO SALAZAR.